Ok, really long story short (and probably a hint of my upcoming build thread), I got a pair of 62 axles to rebuild in the shed. The goal is to do the knuckles/a full brake refresh *not* on the truck in my muddy driveway, or be parked for weeks in the paved flat driveway someone is generously going to let me use for the axle install. I also have a stock FJ60 suspension, minus front and rear OME Dakar springs/u-bolts, and some poly bushings I've regretted since fighting them into place with the rusty OEM shackles/pins in 2016. It's been squeaky ever since, and they're definitely in need of replacement by now. So, to be fair, I'd say my setup actually worked okay for years, but I don't want to struggle that much for such a squeaky result when I'm bolting the new axles up. I could probably just replace the shackles and bushings and u-bolts, but I'm sick of the old, too-short shocks, so I'm feeling like I can kill a lot of birds with one install job.
I want every bushing/shackle bolt/spring pin to go in as nicely as possible when I throw the rebuilt axles on. I want long-enough shocks (honestly not picky about the ride -- these Toyota OEM ones ride fine, but limit down-travel by a few inches). I want to get a quieter, smoother, better-cornering and flexing ride out of these (now fully broken-in) springs. But, mainly, I want everything to fit without using c-clamps and other silliness to 'press-fit' rusted-bigger spring pins through noisy poly bushings. I should have replaced it all in 2016, but I wanted my dang truck driving again and didn't want to wait for shackles in the mail so I made it work.
So, 'easiest' option seems to be just buying an OME kit minus the actual springs from Kurt. Let's call that the most expensive, at around $1200. I could afford that, but I've heard enough conflicting things about the OME setup that I'd like to hear other suggestions that might get the job done just as well.
Can anyone talk me out of just getting generic greasable shackles, OEM rubber spring bushings, and some slightly cheaper new shocks (looking at $80+ for Bilsteins vs. $105 a corner for OME?)? We're talking about cutting that $1200 cost almost in half, which buys some seriously fun other parts/tools with the saved money.
If the OME stuff really is *twice* as good, that's one thing, but I haven't seen anything to give that impression. But, I'm also kind of at a loss for what non-OME bits I'd actually get instead. Cruiser Outfitters has some decently priced and presumably fine (since *they* sell them) shackles and bushings, but MAF has slightly cheaper identical-style greasable anti-inversion shackles which look like they'd also get the job done. There are also dozens of stores which sell *a* set of shackles, with no really solid information to compare them with anybody else's. I don't need upgraded shackles, really; I just want normal function and an easy install. Same for the shocks, and everything else.
So, suggestions? What's actually available in 2020, too? We're at the point where there are threads on Mud old enough to drive...
I want every bushing/shackle bolt/spring pin to go in as nicely as possible when I throw the rebuilt axles on. I want long-enough shocks (honestly not picky about the ride -- these Toyota OEM ones ride fine, but limit down-travel by a few inches). I want to get a quieter, smoother, better-cornering and flexing ride out of these (now fully broken-in) springs. But, mainly, I want everything to fit without using c-clamps and other silliness to 'press-fit' rusted-bigger spring pins through noisy poly bushings. I should have replaced it all in 2016, but I wanted my dang truck driving again and didn't want to wait for shackles in the mail so I made it work.
So, 'easiest' option seems to be just buying an OME kit minus the actual springs from Kurt. Let's call that the most expensive, at around $1200. I could afford that, but I've heard enough conflicting things about the OME setup that I'd like to hear other suggestions that might get the job done just as well.
Can anyone talk me out of just getting generic greasable shackles, OEM rubber spring bushings, and some slightly cheaper new shocks (looking at $80+ for Bilsteins vs. $105 a corner for OME?)? We're talking about cutting that $1200 cost almost in half, which buys some seriously fun other parts/tools with the saved money.
If the OME stuff really is *twice* as good, that's one thing, but I haven't seen anything to give that impression. But, I'm also kind of at a loss for what non-OME bits I'd actually get instead. Cruiser Outfitters has some decently priced and presumably fine (since *they* sell them) shackles and bushings, but MAF has slightly cheaper identical-style greasable anti-inversion shackles which look like they'd also get the job done. There are also dozens of stores which sell *a* set of shackles, with no really solid information to compare them with anybody else's. I don't need upgraded shackles, really; I just want normal function and an easy install. Same for the shocks, and everything else.
So, suggestions? What's actually available in 2020, too? We're at the point where there are threads on Mud old enough to drive...
